President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to grant U.S. troops a pay raise during an address to service members.
The President made the announcement on Thursday, May 15, while speaking to uniformed personnel stationed at Al Udeid Air Base, southwest of Doha, Qatar, as part of his extended trip to the Middle East.
“My 2026 budget includes across-the-board – maybe you don’t want to look for the good of the country, you don’t have to take it – pay raises for each and every one of you. Substantial pay raises, but you don’t have to take it,” President Trump said amid claps from the military personnel present.
“So, you do your duty for us, and as Commander in Chief, I will always do and fulfil my duty to you.”
At the same time, the President criticized former President Joe Biden’s withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, citing the deaths of 13 service members during the chaotic evacuation from Kabul.
During his visit to Al Udeid Air Base — the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East — Trump also honoured the American troops stationed in Qatar and praised the growing investments from the Gulf nation in American-made defence equipment.
He emphasized the importance of Qatar’s security, declaring that “nobody’s going to break” his relationship with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and that the U.S. “will protect” the petroleum-rich country.
The President further noted that Qatar will invest $10 billion in the Al Udeid Air Base in the coming years, and that new defense contracts signed on Wednesday are valued at $42 billion.
“Yesterday we signed an agreement for Qatar to purchase $42 billion worth of the finest American military hardware,” Trump said, listing off the state-of-the-art equipment, including Pegasus refueling aircraft, amphibious combat vehicles, and the MQ-9B plane.
“I don’t think our friendship has ever been stronger than it is right now.”
Also Read: Trump Secures $600 Billion Investment in Saudi Arabia
Trump Secures $1.2 Trillion Economic Commitment in Qatar
In Qatar, the President signed an agreement with the host country to generate an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion.
Trump also announced economic deals totaling more than $243.5 billion between the United States and Qatar, including an historic sale of Boeing aircraft and GE Aerospace engines to Qatar Airways.
Boeing and GE Aerospace secured a landmark order from Qatar Airways, a $96 billion agreement to acquire up to 210 American-made Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines.
According to the White House, this is Boeing’s largest-ever widebody order and largest-ever 787 orders.
“This historic agreement will support 154,000 U.S. jobs annually, totaling over 1 million jobs in the United States during the course of production and delivery of this deal,” said the White House.
Also Read: Qatar to Gift Trump $400M Jet Set to Become Air Force One
At the same time, Quantinuum finalized a joint venture agreement with Al Rabban Capital, a prominent Qatari company.
Qatar will invest up to $1 billion in state-of-the-art quantum technologies and workforce development provided by the joint venture.
White House said that the deals will drive innovation and prosperity for generations and bolster American manufacturing and technological leadership.
Following his Qatar visit, President Trump arrived in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, later on Thursday for the final leg of his Middle East trip.
He was welcomed by the President of the UAE His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
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